The 2021 Formula 1 World Championship will be welcoming a new safety car in the form of a specially-equipped Aston Martin Vantage.

Dressed in Racing Green, the team colour of the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team and complimented with Lime Essence accents, the special Vantage is equipped with a raft of modifications in order to fulfill its new role on the track, including a roof-mounted LED light-bar sitting atop a carbon fibre plinth.

And it’s no conventional light bar, either, as it has been designed to offer the least possible aerodynamic resistance and optimise airflow towards the rear wing. The rear wing is also equipped with a rear-facing camera that provides a live feed into a secondary rear-view camera in the cabin.

The Vantage Safety Car has also undergone a series of chassis and aerodynamic improvements to make it fit for purpose, including a new front splitter that adds 60kg of extra downforce over the road-going Vantage.

Its AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 gets an additional 18kW to dish out a total of 394kW and 685Nm of torque.

Inside, the interior is equipped with a pair of FIA-approved racing seats with six-point safety harness, while the centre console features a switch control system for various functions, such as radio communications, car siren and activation of the light bar.

FIA’s appointed driver, Bernd Mayländer, and former race driver, Richard Darker, will be piloting the Vantage Safety Car.

Joining the Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car on the field will be an Aston Martin DBX, which plays the role of official medical car.

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Aston Martin has introduced its DBS Superleggera Concorde special edition built to mark 50 years since the first Concorde supersonic jet.

Created in collaboration with British Airways, along with Aston Martin’s bespoke Q division, the DBS Superleggera Concorde is limited to just ten units and joins the Vanquish S Red Arrows Edition, Vantage Blades Edition and the V12 Vantage S Spitfire 80 in the brand’s aviation-inspired celebration models.

The car’s introduction also coincides precisely with the date when the last Concorde flight touched down in the UK.

Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda, said of the new car: “It’s only fitting that our great British sports car brand marks the achievement of the incredibly dedicated, talented and ambitious teams of British and French scientists, engineers, designers and aircraft workers who made Concorde, and supersonic air travel, a reality in our skies 50 years ago.

“Using the DBS Superleggera as our starting point, and with the support of the talented personalisation experts in the Q by Aston Martin service to draw on, we have been able to subtly and sympathetically enhance and highlight some of the car’s most notable features while preserving the elegance, style and sheer brutish road presence for which the Aston Martin DBS is rightly known.”

The super exclusive model features a number of exterior and interior modifications to set it apart from the DBS Superleggera on which it is based.

Bespoke exterior parts include side strakes milled from solid aluminium, a painted livery comprising British Airways colours on the roof strake, aero blade and rear diffuser, black tinted carbon fibre roof with Concorde silhouette graphic and the famous British Airways ‘Speedmarque’ logo in chrome on the front wings

There is also a unique Q by Aston Martin wing badge with black enamel infill, unique and authentic jet black painted Civil Aviation Authority aircraft identifier numbers and bespoke inspection plagues signed by Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer and British Airways Chairman Alex Cruz.

Inside, the limited edition model features Concorde logo on the front seats, a Mach Meter graphic embroidered on the driver’s side sun visor, unique Alcantara headliner with a ‘sonic boom’ graphic, floor mats in Terence Conran design pattern, seatbelt buckle badges milled from solid aluminium and bespoke sill plagues.

There are even paddle shifters made from the Concorde’s titanium compressor blades.

Underneath the bonnet is the same 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine pumping out 533kW and 900Nm of torque, enabling the DBS Superleggera Concorde to blast from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 340km/h.

Aston Martin will also donate parts of the proceeds from the sale of each car to the Air League Trust, a not-for-profit organization that teaches under-privileged children how to fly and offers support for them to work in engineering.

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The Aston Martin DBX has finally broken cover to become the British marque’s first ever SUV and a model it hopes will propel the brand to new heights worldwide.

It’s also the latest sports car maker to join the SUV fray after Lamborghini with its Urus and Maserati with its Levante, amongst others.

The DBX has been a long time coming, with initial development stretching back to 2015 and despite being in uncharted territory with an SUV, Aston Martin insists the DBX brings both the versatility and indulgence expected of a luxury SUV with sports car levels of dynamic performance.

“DBX is a car that will give many people their first experience of Aston Martin ownership. As such it need to be true to the core values established in our sports cars, while also providing the lifestyle versatility expected of a luxury SUV,” said Aston Martin CEO, Andy Palmer.

To fulfill that promise, the DBX will receive a model-specific version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol found in the DB11 and Vantage, which itself is borrowed from Mercedes-AMG.

It pumps out 404kW and 700Nm while matched with a sound track that is said to be “unquestionably Aston Martin” thanks to a revised firing order. Aston Martin claims the DBX will sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 291km/h.

Power is channeled to an all-wheel drive system with electronically controlled centre and rear differentials via a nine-speed torque converter auto.

To mask its 2,245kg heft, the DBX uses an air suspension system combined with a 48v electric anti-roll control system which, in addition to raising and lowering its ride height, also replaces the traditional anti-roll bars and can send up to 1,400Nm of force to each axle. Aston Martin says the goal is to allow for an on-the-fly switch between superior ride comfort and the handling ability of a sports car.

Inside, the DBX seats five and is said to offer class-leading interior space with a 632 litre boot. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster complemented by a 10.25-inch infotainment screen running a version of Mercedes-Benz’s infotainment system.

The DBX will be built in Aston Martin’s freshly completed second production facility in St Athans, Wales.

Aussies can expect to see the DBX locally towards the middle of 2020, with pricing starting from $357,000 plus on-roads.

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Aston Martin has revealed a breathtaking high-revving V12 engine created in conjunction with Cosworth that will make its way into the Valkyrie hypercar set to debut in 2019.

The naturally aspirated 6.5-litre 12-cylinder wonder confirms the expected performance of the Valkyrie as hinted at last year, with peak outputs of 735kW at an astonishing 10,500rpm and 740Nm at 7,000rpm.

Also incredible is the V12’s redline of 11,100rpm, a number not normally seen when it comes to road cars, which will no doubt make it sound pretty raucous too, especially if the sounds heard in Aston Martin’s teaser video you can watch below are anything to go by.

As noted in the video and also previously hinted at, the V12 won’t power the Valkyrie alone as it is set to be integrated into some form of hybrid powertrain, with the addition of some electric motors sure to add a noticeable amount of torque into the mix. The combined power figure, however, is yet to be confirmed.

The involvement of Cosworth in the development of the cracking engine, along with the expertise of Red Bull Racing engineer Adrian Newey, has helped to realise Aston Martin’s goal for the Valkyrie to create ‘the ultimate expression of the internal combustion engine’.

Cosworth’s decades of Formula 1 experience can clearly be seen in the bespoke engine, not only in its five-digit redline but also its incredibly low weight for an engine of such a size of just 206kg, while still finding strength in the materials used as the engine will form part of the car’s backbone.

Nearly all of the engine’s internals are machined from solid metal, with items such as the connecting rods and F1-spec pistons made of titanium, while the crankshaft is billet-machined over the course of six months and weighs in at 50 per cent less than that in the Aston Martin One-77 – previously the company’s most powerful road car which also sported a Cosworth-developed V12.

In a press release, Aston Martin CEO and proper petrolhead Andy Palmer confirmed that there was no option for the Valkyrie’s power plant other than a V12, no matter what.

“To anyone with a drop of petrol in their blood, a high-revving naturally aspirated V12 is the absolute pinnacle. Nothing sounds better or encapsulates the emotion and excitement of the internal combustion more completely,” said Palmer.

“Despite the apparently insurmountable challenges it presented, there was never any question that the Aston Martin Valkyrie would do with anything less.

“From the outset, the team at Cosworth were unflinching in their commitment to achieving benchmarks which pushed the boundaries of the possible.

“The result is a quite extraordinary engine. One which I doubt will ever be surpassed.”

Currently, the Valkyrie is slated to enter production in the coming year, with just 125 road-legal units and 25 hardcore track-only builds.

Expected to cost around US$3.3 million, all 150 examples have already likely been accounted for, with Aston Martin having received at least 600 serious expressions as of July 2017.

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Aston Martin has confirmed its first-ever SUV will be known as the DBX. The announcement comes as the first development prototype hits the ground along the demanding Welsh Rally stage to begin its grueling test programme.

The high-riding DBX will be Aston Martin’s answer to the Maserati Levant and to some extend, the Lamborghini Urus, and is also expected to be its first electrified vehicle.

Being the brand’s inaugural SUV, Aston Martin have had to develop a dedicated test programme; one that features new processes, procedures and standards that reflect its all-purpose role.

The company says not only will it ‘perform with the verve and poise of a true Aston Martin’, the DBX is expected to be imbued with ‘impressive multi-terrain and towing capabilities as befits a state-of-the-art SUV.’

Speaking of his drive in the DBX development prototype, Aston Martin Chief Engineer, Matt Becker said: “We have already developed and tuned [the] DBX in the driving simulator, which has enabled us to make excellent progress in advance of the first physical prototype cars being available”

“DBX is a very different kind of Aston Martin, but we will be testing it in all conditions and across all terrains to ensure it delivers a driving experience worthy of the wings badge.”

As part of the development programme, the DBX will tackle some of the world’s harshest environments, from the frozen Arctic and scorching deserts in the Middle East to the high Alpine passes and high-speed German autobahn, including the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

We can expect more details to be drip fed as the DBX inches closer to its launch in the last quarter of 2019.

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With development of Aston Martin’s first all-electric production car – the Rapide E – progressing apace, the luxury British marque has today confirmed a raft of technical details for the strictly limited 155-unit special edition. 

Developed with the help of Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) as its Electric Vehicle technology partner, the Rapide E will be powered by an 800V battery electrical architecture with 64kWh installed capacity using over 5600 lithium ion 18650 format cylindrical cells. These are mounted in a bespoke battery pack where the original 6.0-litre V12, its gearbox and fuel tank were located. This battery system powers two rear mounted electric motors producing a combined target output of just over 610PS and a colossal 950Nm of torque.

The Rapide E’s range target is over 200 miles or 321km, while the model is capable of charging at a rate of 185 miles (297km) of range per hour using a typical 400V 50kW charger. The car’s 800V high-voltage battery system also enables faster charging of 310 miles (498km) of range per hour, using an 800V outlet delivering 100kW or higher.

Projected top speed for the Rapide E is 155mph (250km/h), with a sub-4.0sec 0-60mph (96km/h) time and a 50-70mph (80-112km/h) time of just 1.5sec.

Aston Martin is quick to point out that these figures are not restricted to a narrow window only when the batteries are fully-charged. Instead the target is for maximum performance on-demand throughout majority of the battery state of charge window. The car maker says this includes the ability to drive a full lap of the Nürburgring with absolutely no derating of the battery and the ability to cope with the daily demands of repeated hard acceleration and braking.

The car’s exterior and underbody has also been aerodynamically optimised and complemented with newly-designed aerodynamic wheels. Shod with Pirelli P-Zero low rolling-resistance tyres featuring noise-cancelling foam, Rapide E aims to achieve higher levels of aerodynamic, frictional losses and cooling performance over the standard Rapide S.

It has also been an objective of the project to retain and enhance the feel, character and delivery of the V12-engined Rapide S. The rear-wheel drive Rapide E’s twin electric motors will drive through a Limited-Slip Differential, which together with revised spring and damper rates, is said to offer pure handling characteristics similar to the petrol-powered Rapide S.

The Rapide E will be built at the upcoming St. Athan production facility in the U.K., announced as the future ‘Home of Electrification’ for both the Aston Martin and Lagonda brands. Aston Martin is accepting expressions of interest via its global dealership network, with pricing available on application. Customer deliveries are set for Q4 2019.

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The Aston Martin Cygnet had often been derided for being a gloried Toyota iQ. It was created and sold in the EU to enable Aston Martin to meet the stringent 2012 fleet average emissions regulations in there.

It was a sales flop, with only approximately 300 sold rather than the forecast 4000 units per annum and was discontinued in 2013, just over two years after it hit the market.

But it’s been resurrected and this time, Aston Martin engineers have incredibly, managed to stuff a massive 4.7-litre V8 from the Vantage S into the Cygnet’s tiny engine bay originally meant for a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine.

The result? An enormous lift in power from 72kW to a muscular 320kW! The talented engineers have also swapped the driven wheels around, with power now channeled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed Speedshift II automatic gearbox.

Zero to 100km/h is now accomplished in just 4.2 seconds, while top speed reaches a respectable 274km/h. This compares to the standard car’s leisurely 11.8 seconds and maximum speed of 171km/h.

As you can see here, Aston’s engineers have also upgraded the car’s chassis to accommodate the additional firepower. It now rides on independent double wishbone front and rear suspension and rolls on giant 19-inch alloys behind which hide beefier brakes. The wheel arches are extended, too, and made from carbon fibre to accommodate the wider tracks.

As a consequence of all these modification, the V8-powered Cygnet has put on some weight, tipping the scales at 1,375kg (distributed 50:50 front/rear) instead of the original car’s sub one-tonne kerb weight.

This one-off V8 Cygnet was created for a customer through the ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ service and will make its debut at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

V8 Cygnet – Technical Specification

Body: 
RHD Cygnet steel bodyshell and panels with integrated welded-in cage
Sheet metal fabricated front bulkhead and transmission tunnel
Vantage subframes
Steel fuel tank housing mounted in the boot area
Carbon composite flared wheel arch extensions
Mesh front grille
Dark exterior hardware
Body painted Buckinghamshire Green
Yellow brake calipers

Interior:
Two seat configuration
Fixed back Recaro composite driver and passenger seats with
Adjustable seat runners driver’s side, fixed position passenger side
Four-point harnesses
Bespoke carbon composite instrument panel incorporating Vantage instrument cluster
Bespoke HVAC controls
Twin USB ports
Bespoke carbon fibre door cards with leather pull straps and Cygnet door release handles
Full FIA compliant fire extinguisher system
Removable alcantara steering wheel

Engine:  
All-Alloy Quad Overhead Camshaft, 4.7-litre V8
Dry sump lubrication
Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Vantage S cooling system
Twin concial air filters on bespoke intake trunking
Bespoke exhaust system with twin underfloor mufflers and catalytic convertors
Twin centre exit tailpipes
30-litre ATL Savercell fuel tank

Electrical System:
V8 Vantage S electrical architecture
Cygnet front and rear lights
FIA compliant cut off and isolation system
Rear mounted battery
Bespoke lightweight HVAC system

Performance
Maximum Power: 430bhp
Maximum Torque: 490Nm (361lb ft)
Maximum Speed: 170 mph (274 km/h)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.2secs

Transmission: 
V8 Vantage S seven-speed Sportshift II gearbox
Bespoke torque tube with steel propeller shaft
Limited-slip differential

Suspension:  
Front Independent double wishbone, coil springs, anti-roll bar and passive dampers
Rear Independent double wishbone, coil springs, anti-roll bar and passive dampers

Wheels and Tyres
Lightweight forged five-spoke silver diamond turned wheels
Bridgestone tyres
Front 8.5×19” 235/40/19
Rear 9.5×19” 275/35/19

Brakes:  
V8 Vantage S braking system with ABS and fixed brake bias valve
Front 6-piston monoblock calipers, 380mm 2 piece floating ventilated discs
Rear 4-piston monoblock calipers 330mm 2 piece co-cast ventilated discs
V8 Vantage derived pedal box with bespoke brake pedal

Dimensions
Length:                                   3708mm
Width:                                     1920mm (excluding door mirrors)
Height:                                    1500mm
Wheelbase:                            2020mm
Front Track:                            1570mm
Rear Track:                             1560mm
Weight:                                   1375kg (kerbweight)
Weight Distribution:              50%/50% (Front/Rear)

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Aston Martin has taken the cover off the DBS Superleggera – a true thoroughbred that marks the return of not one, but two illustrious names. With DBS, Aston Martin is reviving an iconic nameplate that first appeared on in 1967, while Touring’s famous mark – Superleggera – will once again adorn the bonnet of an Aston Martin.

A collaboration that originally paved the way to the DB4, 5 and 6 Mark 1, DBS Superleggera pays homage to the super lightweight construction technology of the famous Italian coachbuilder.

Clad using immaculately sculpted carbon fibre body panels, the new DBS Superleggera is a Super GT blessed with muscular and highly individual styling. The bespoke look is perfectly matched by Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, tuned to produce a tremendous 533kW of power at 6500rpm and a huge 900Nm of torque from 1800-5000rpm.

The prodigious power and torque is sent to the rear wheels via a new rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Traction is further managed by a mechanical limited-slip differential and torque vectoring.

As the British marque’s new Super GT flagship, the DBS Superleggera replaces the Vanquish S with a top speed of 339km/h and blistering 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 3.4 seconds. It also boasts class-leading in-gear acceleration, with 80-160km/h achieved in fourth gear in a mere 4.2 seconds.

Evolving aerodynamic concepts first seen on the DB11 – such as the curlicue and Aeroblade – and then taking things further with an F1-inspired double-diffuser, DBS Superleggera generates 180kg of downforce at VMAX: the highest figure ever for a series production Aston Martin.

The DBS Superleggera is equipped as standard with keyless entry, tyre pressure monitoring system and a 360-degree camera with Parking Distance Display and Park Assist. The audio system has DAB plus Bluetooth audio and phone streaming, iPod, iPhone and USB playback. There is also an integrated satellite navigation system and wi-fi hub. All the in-car infotainment systems use a central LCD screen, controlled via a central dial.

As befits its flagship status, the DBS Superleggera features an extensive scope for personalisation. Supple, aromatic leather and Alcantara upholstery comes as standard, as do the Sports Plus performance seats and steering wheel. There is a choice of two alloy wheel designs: the standard ‘Y’ Spoke Forged Wheel and the Lightweight Twin Spoke Forged wheel. Both are 21” in diameter and fitted with Pirelli tyres developed specifically for DBS Superleggera. There is also a choice of striking Designer Specifications, with specially chosen colour and trim combinations selected by the Aston Martin Design Team to accentuate certain aspects of DBS Superleggera’s character.

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera will be priced from AUD$517,000 (plus on road costs) in Australia, with local customer deliveries set to commence late Q4 2018/early Q1 2019.

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Aston Martin has unveiled its second model under the AMR performance sub-brand with the new Rapide AMR following in the footsteps of the DB11 AMR.

Described as “a sports car capable of comfortably transporting a team of race drivers to a circuit on the other side of a continent and then tackling the track when they get there,” production of the Rapide AMR is limited to just 210 cars.

As befitting its AMR badge, the four-door’s 5.9-litre naturally-aspirated V12 – marketed as a 6.0-litre – gains larger inlet manifolds derived from the Vantage GT12 along with new calibration for the engine and eight-speed Touchtronic III automatic transmission.

The result? 450kW at 7,000rpm and 630Nm of torque channeled to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential.

Despite the modifications, the Rapide AMR is no faster than the 418kW Rapide S, taking 4.4 seconds to complete the century sprint although top speed is slightly higher at 330km/h, versus 327km/h.

The Rapide AMR sits 10mm lower than the Rapide S and gets a set of recalibrated three stage adaptive dampers to suit. There are also a set of carbon ceramic brakes measuring 400mm and clamped by six-piston calipers up front, and 360mm with four-piston calipers at the rear.

The car rolls on a set of 21-inch wheels – a first for Aston Martin – that helps cool those massive brakes, along with modified brake ducts and dust shields adapted from the Vanquish S.

Aesthetically, the Rapide AMR features a bolder front grille and circular daytime running lights inspired by the Zagato. To keep weight in check, the splitter, sills, rear diffuser, ventilated bonnet and boot lid spoiler are all made of carbon-fibre.

There are three different design themes to choose from – Standard, Silhouette and Signature. The first two come with a choice of four colours: Mariana Blue, Scintilla Siler, Lightning Silver and Onyx Black. The Standard theme also adds AMR Lime accents to the splitter, sills and rear diffuser, while the Silhouette gets a full-length contrasting stripe in China Grey or Clubsport White.

Meanwhile, the Signature look matches Stirling Green paint with Lime accents and a Lime stripe, which the company says draws the “closest visual link to the Aston Martin Racing team and the liveries of its race cars.”

Inside, the interior is offer with either AMR Lime or Galena Silver welting and stitching. The full-length carbon-fibre centre console and Alcantara-trimmed seats are both a first for the Rapide. There is also plenty of AMR branding, including a unique AMR inspection plague. Customers can also order a One-77 style steering wheel as an option.

The car is available to order now with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2018.

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Aston Martin has taken the covers off the new DB11 AMR at the opening of the new Nürburgring-based AMR (Aston Martin Racing) Performance Centre.

Replacing the outgoing V12-engined DB11 as the new flagship of the DB11 range, the DB11 AMR boasts greater power, increased performance, enhanced driving dynamics and a more characterful exhaust note, together with a suite of exterior and interior enhancements.

At the heart of the DB11 AMR is Aston Martin’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12, now tweaked to produce 470kW of power at 6500rpm, 23kW more than the DB11 Coupe. Peak torque remains unchanged at 700Nm and is available from just 1500rpm.

The higher output allows the DB11 AMR to sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds, down 0.2s from before. Top speed is rated at 335km/h, an increase of 13km/h and the fastest in Aston Martin’s current series production range.

Aston Martin says the handling of DB11 AMR’s chassis has been further refined to delivered a “greater sense of connection” without compromising on the GT’s supple ride. Similarly, a new shift calibration for the transmission and a slightly more vocal exhaust note ensures the DB11 AMR expresses its character more explicitly when Sport mode is engaged.

Visually the DB11 AMR is distinguished by a co-ordinated palette of exposed carbon fibre and gloss black detailing that unites the exterior and interior treatment. On the outside all brightwork has been given a monochrome treatment: dark headlight surrounds and smoked tail lamps complimented by dark front grille and tailpipes; gloss black roof, roof strake plus side sills and splitter offering a subtle contrast with the exposed weave of the carbon fibre hood blades and side strakes. The dark theme continues inside, with monotone leather and alcantara upholstery and a bold contrasting central lime stripe.

In addition to the extensive choice of standard colour and trim options, the DB11 AMR is available in three Designer Specifications, plus a limited-edition model sporting AMR’s signature Stirling Green and lime livery.

The Aston Martin DB11 AMR will be priced from $428,000 plus on-road costs when it hits Australian dealerships in the fourth quarter this year.

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